How We Hallow - Missionary Zerit Yohannes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tZhx8tlG5Q

After this, I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. - Revelation 7:9

“Hallowed be Thy name”

Millions of us pray “Hallowed be Thy name” every week. I wonder if we thought about what we were praying – specifically, what does it mean to “hallow”? Dr. Martin Luther thought about it. Rev. Zerit Yohannes, a missionary in America from Eritrea, showed us.

I assume you know that to “hallow” is to “make holy.” But how does a human hallow God’s name? In his explanation of the Lord’s Prayer’s first petition, Luther points out, “God’s name was given to us when we were baptized.” Then this: “it becomes holy when both our teaching and our life are godly…” (The Large Catechism).

How humans “hallow” the Name of God

In my understanding, the petitions following “Hallowed be Thy name” explain how we do that, how humans “hallow” the Name of God. For instance, “Thy kingdom come.” We hallow God’s name when we help to usher in the Kingdom of God. We hallow God’s name when we pray “Thy will be done” – trusting God loves us, and His will for us is always good. “Give ‘us” this day our daily bread;” not only me, but the “us” of those around us, especially those in need. When we pray “Forgive us our sins AS WE FORGIVE,” we hallow God’s name, if we really mean what we are saying. As we pray “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us in the time of trial,” we are preparing to hallow the Name of God. We pray all these things because we know “Thine is the kingdom.” We do not rule ourselves – we want to live under the kingship of our Father in heaven, which brings us back to the second petition.

God’s kingdom is coming

Although never fully realized here on earth, the Bible has much to say about signs that God’s kingdom is coming. When John the Baptist (Mathew 11:3) called out to Jesus, ”Are you the Coming One?” In his answer, Jesus enumerated signs the prophets used to describe the coming of God’s kingdom: “Go tell John …the blind see and the lame walk; lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (see Isaiah 29:18, 35:4-6; Psalm 22.

God’s name is hallowed when those in distress hear the good news of Jesus and see His love in action. Zerit Yohannes was an instrument God used to bring in the kingdom. At times it was harrowing.

“The Red Terror” in Eritrea

Rev. Yohannes lived through “The Red Terror” in Eritrea. Through that time in the 1970s, his faith held and grew; he was a missionary during the worst times, an instrument to usher in the Kingdom to a war-torn people.

Missionary Yohannes graduated from the largest Lutheran seminary in Africa, in Tanzania. He spread the good news of Jesus throughout Africa as a missionary broadcasting over the radio in Nairobi, Kenya, and through mercy work. He began a ministry among immigrants arriving in Kenya fleeing war and famine, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked. An instrument to usher in the Kingdom of God. Zerit was hallowing God’s name as he made God’s kingdom real in that place and time.

The church’s role as a servant of the people

The African Christians hallowed the name of God when they developed programs to aid victims of HIV, hunger, and poverty: the church’s role as a servant of the people made lasting impressions in Tanzania and in Eritrea. Then, A door opened for Zerit and his family to go to Canada, where he began ministry to African immigrants in Toronto. He also attended Concordia Seminary in St. Catherine, as well as Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The Kingdom of God was made concrete, the mission in Canada grew, and the poor heard the good news and experienced it in the work the churches did. Then a call came for Pr. Yohannes to return to Eritrea to teach mission work at the Church’s seminary. For nine years he worked to equip new pastors and missionaries to usher in the Kingdom of God. He was hallowing the name of God.

“Hallowed be Thy Name.”

Rev. Zerit was called back to North America, to St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan, to train missionaries from Africa to the United States. When we spoke via Zoom, Rev. Yohannes, with his fellow pastors of St. Luke Lutheran and Rev. Todd Jones, Mission Secretary of the Michigan District, were preparing to teach about thirty missionaries (men and women) who came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, making God’s love real in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Iowa, and South Dakota. “Hallowed be Thy Name.” His insights on mission work are important for all who would bring the lost to Christ in America, for all those who hallow God’s Name.

Each petition of the Lord’s prayer

Each petition of the Lord’s prayer is, finally, a way to hallow God’s Name. The next time you pray the Prayer – think about how you can hallow God’s name in the coming day – pray “Thy Kingdom come” - and then go out afterwards to heal and preach the gospel to a hurting world.

It is a gift of His grace that you and I have been allowed to pray the Lord’s Prayer – and this day to hallow the Name of God.

More Stories Like This One

At Mission Nation Publishing, we inspire and equip churches to reach new ethnic groups in America with the gospel of Jesus. One of the ways that we do this is by publishing the stories of immigrants. If Alex's story inspired you, I would encourage you to check out our book collection and find more stories that show God's unfailing love through His people.

Check Out Our Books Today!

I want to invite YOU to check out our books, where you can learn more about what it means to engage with your community and better serve those around you. Click HERE to see our books. Specifically, I want to point you to Together in Mission. This resource is designed both

for congregations preparing to step into cross-cultural ministry and for those already engaged in it. It serves as an introduction to the vision of Revelation 7:9 and the work we carry out at Mission Nation, helping you move forward grounded in the Word and equipped for the work ahead.

Rev. Dr. Bob Scudieri

Founder of Mission Nation Publishing

Mission Nation Publishing is dedicated to inspiring and equipping churches across America to effectively engage with and minister to new ethnic groups by amplifying the powerful stories of immigrant missionaries and fostering diversity within Christian communities.

Thank you for journeying with me through this exploration of ministry tools. May your efforts bear fruit and your community flourish.